Five of Bergen's finest prior to connecting with the Crag Martin klippesvaleA crowd of birders this big in Øygarden is almost as rare as the bird they are going for - there is the possibility of many more at the weekend though....
Shelduck gravand
Flock of Red-throated Diver smålom
One of many porpoises nise seen today
Deer hjørt seen on the way to Skogsøy VERY calm and largely overcast.
I spent the morning seawatching at Skogsøy where seven White-billed Diver gulnebblom and 114 Red-throated Diver smålom were the highlights. Two Arctic Tern rødnebbterne were the first of the year in the county. Small numbers of Whimbrel småspove, a couple of Shelduck gravand and over 100 Common Scoter svartand also headed north.
On Hernar the Crag Martin klippesvale was present throughout the day pleasing all who tried for it (including one who drove through the night from Stavanger and one who came up from Haugesund). Amazingly the second new for Øygarden in two days was seen from the island - three Mute Swan knoppsvane - just shows what a bit of coverage will do..... Other noteworthy species on the island included a Stonechat svartstrupe, a Tree Pipit trepiplerke and the county's first Lesser Whitethroat møller for the year.
Lets see what tomorrow's crowds will bring...
By Øygarden standards this was a full on "twitch" with several birders driving out from Bergen...